Published: Monday, April 1, 2013 at 8:38 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, April 1, 2013 at 8:38 a.m.

Parents Krystina Lopez and Jesus Neira had been told daughter Izabella would likely die before her first birthday.

The South Florida Sun Sentinel reports the child was born with a rare disease that was hardening the tissue in her lungs. She was considered too young for a transplant and unlikely to find a suitable infant donor.

But specialists at Shands at the University of Florida decided to take Izabella on as their youngest heart-lung transplant candidate ever.

Izabella had to hang on for nine months attached to a ventilator before a match was found. She underwent surgery on Jan. 27. Doctors say her prognosis is good.

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